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What is A Biomarker, and What Do They Tell Us About Mesothelioma? 🔬💭
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Several mesothelioma biomarkers have been identified 📝
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There are several different biomarkers that oncologists use to confirm the presence of malignant mesothelioma, or to rule out. Some can even be used to assess the patient’s prognosis after a diagnosis has been made.
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Though the presence of fibula-3, osteopontin, neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio, c_MET expression and ki-67 ratios are all helpful, researchers from China have determined that the most valuable biomarker for the rare, asbestos-related disease is the presence of soluble mesothelia-related peptides, or SMRP.
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SMRP is found in both pleural effusions and in blood, where it is detected through a test called MESOMARK. They are created when proteins in the membranes that surround the body’s organs are broken down by cancer.
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Once these chemicals are released, they can be found in the fluid that collects in mesothelioma sufferers’ lungs as a result of inflammation. The more SMRPs are found in these pleural effusions, the more advanced the cancer is likely to be throughout the patient’s body.
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Chinese researchers determine that SMRPs are among the most sensitive biomarkers for mesothelioma 🔬
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By analyzing the results of biomarker studies from thousands of patients, scientists from the Capital Medical University in Beijing determined that SMRPs were present in pleural effusions and used to correctly diagnosed mesothelioma in 70 percent of cases. Similarly, the absence of SMRPs was used to correctly eliminate a mesothelioma diagnosis in 90 percent of cases.
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Though SMRPs are not always a reliable indicator of mesothelioma’s presence, they do provide physicians with a high-sensitivity tool to quickly diagnose the disease. If you have been diagnosed with this challenging illness and need information about where to turn for help, contact the Patient Advocates at Mesothelioma.net at 1-800-692-8608. 📞

New Immunotherapy Trial Targets Mesothelioma Protein 👨‍🔬
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Mesothelin’s Role in Mesothelioma 📝
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Mesothelioma forms in three areas of the body: the pleura, the peritoneum and the pericardium. The pleura is the thin lining between the chest wall and lung cavity. The peritoneum lines the abdomen. The pericardium lines the heart.
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These three areas are comprised of mesothelial cells (hence the name of the disease). These cells express mesothelin and can mutate when exposed to asbestos. The mutation is how mesothelioma tumors form and then spread throughout the body at a rapid rate.
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Some immunotherapy clinical trials focus on disrupting the deactivation of T-cells, the immune system’s primary weapon in defending the body of cancer. Dr. Raffit Hassan, a specialist at the National Cancer Institute, has led numerous trials involving LMB-100 targeting mesothelin.
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If scientists can find a drug that is effective at singling out mesothelin producers and killing them, then the immune system may have some help.
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Details of the New Trial ⬇︎
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The National Cancer Institute’s study involves 45 participants, who will receive LMB-100 along with tofacitinib. The immunotherapy trial is in Phase I and is intended for people with one of many cancers: pancreatic, bile-duct or any solid-tumor disease that involves mesothelin. Mesothelioma fits the description.
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The trial is solely for patients who did not respond well to treatment or were ineligible for treatment. The participants will receive the drugs in three 21-day cycles. Each cycle includes three injections of LMB-100.
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The researchers and doctors hope to find a safe dosage of LMB-100 with tofacitinib, along with how the two drugs affect the patients’ bodies.
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📝 If you have mesothelioma, you could be eligible to enroll. The trial is still recruiting, and our patient advocate Jenna Campagna, RN can help you sign up. Email her at jenna@mesotheliomaguide.com to learn more about this study along with clinical trials testing other potential new treatments for mesothelioma patients.

UK scientists are testing a breathalyzer for earlier mesothelioma detection.
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A UK-based medical manufacturer has announced that it will start running clinical trials to test whether a disease breathalyzer can detect malignant mesothelioma before the disease’s symptoms start to appear.
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Cambridge-based Owlstone Medical will be partnering with the International Association of Heat and Frost Insulators and Allied Workers (IAHFIAW) in the U.S. and Canada. IAHFIAW members are at high risk of developing mesothelioma.
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Those who work in construction and manufacturing are at particularly high risk of asbestos exposure and mesothelioma, according to Vogelzang Law. But because of the disease’s lengthy latency period of 40-50 years, mesothelioma can be difficult to diagnose until it’s in its later stages.
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According to Owlstone’s press release, the company will be testing the device, known as Breath Biopsy. The device will analyze various chemicals found in IAHFIAW members who have documented exposure to asbestos and have confirmed malignant mesothelioma.
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The project will be divided into two phases. First, scientists will identify the volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in the participants’ breath. The next step will be to conduct a blind study to determine whether present biomarkers are predictive of having the disease.
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All of the breath samples will be collected using the ReCIVA Breath Sampler from Owlstone Medical. The samples will be analyzed at the company’s Breath Biopsy Laboratory in Cambridge.
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The study is expected to last three years and is being partly funded by the non-profit organization Tissue Bank Asbestos Research Charitable Trust.
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Earlier diagnosis of malignant mesothelioma can lead to more effective treatment and a longer life. Currently, early detection of the disease is challenging, which leads to poor prognosis for patients.
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“Through this partnership, we are looking not only to advance the early diagnosis of malignant mesothelioma, but also to demonstrate that breath-based screening has the potential to have a substantial impact on a wide range of environment-driven disease,” said Billy Boyle, founder of Owlstone Medical.

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